Rebecca Michelson
PhD Student, starting Spring 2026
I am a PhD student starting in August 2026, and I plan to work with Professor Bin Yang on Solar System small bodies and exoplanets using extreme adaptive optics.
Since graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy, I have held a full-time research fellowship focusing on exoplanet direct imaging and spectroscopy, including work to calibrate the coronagraphic spectroscopy mode on the HST/STIS instrument.
Projects
During undergraduate, my research was mainly focused on exoplanet/brown dwarf direct imaging. I developed simulation software to inform direct imaging with the JWST/MIRI instrument’s coronagraphic modes, and I worked to reduce and analyze MIRI data of a benchmark brown dwarf system. I also performed a background source analysis with this data and published my exploration of brown dwarf versus galaxy comparisons in mid-infrared color-color space. After undergraduate, I have begun a full-time research fellowship focusing on exoplanet direct imaging and spectroscopy, including work to calibrate the coronagraphic spectroscopy mode on the HST/STIS instrument and to observe accretion markers in young substellar objects with disks using JWST.
Publications
Extracurricular activities
When not working, I like hiking and exploring the outdoors, trying out new cafes, playing scary games, and crocheting toys for my cat.
Contact me
astromichelson [at] gmail.com